A writer whose works seem made for Halloween consumption will be highlighted this weekend as Mast-Head Productions presents "The House of Poe."

Subtitled "Six Twisted Tales From the Mind of Edgar Allan Poe," the production is a medley of classic stories from America's premier suspense writer brought to life, according to writer/director Charles Duesler.

Inspired by the gothic E.C. Comics format, Duesler weaves the plots of five short stories and one narrative poem together in one central account. He begins with "The Cask of Amontillado," in which Montresor leads his "friend" Fortunato down into a dark catacombs with less-than-friendly intent.

As the story winds toward its ghoulish climax, Fortunato relates five tales to pass the time: "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Raven," "The Spectacles" and "The Masque of the Red Death."

The five actors in the production play multiple roles. They are Greg Glover (featured as Fortunato and Prince Prospero), Randall Pennington (Roderick Usher), Rebecca Clark (The Murderer), Jared Madewell (The Visitor) and Dana Rogers (Montresor).

The original music was composed by D. Brian Ailey and Amanda Cagle; it is performed by The Saturnine Tales. Costumes are by Randy Forester.

Duesler said the $6 ticket price is a steal. "For the same amount it costs for one person to see a 3-D movie, two can see 'The House of Poe,' which is live, and it doesn't get more 3-D than that," he said.

THE STORIES

"The Cask of Amontillado": Short story about being buried alive, stemming from the narrator's deadly revenge on a friend he believes has insulted him.

"The Fall of the House of Usher": Short story about a crumbling, haunted castle that disappears into the underworld, taking its occupants into their true home.

"The Tell-Tale Heart": An unnamed narrator coldly carries out a murder, then hallucinates that the man's heart is still beating beneath the floorboards where the dismembered body has been buried.

"The Raven": Narrative poem tells of a talking raven's mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's descent into madness.

"The Spectacles": A comic short story about a man whose vanity precludes him from wearing his eyeglasses to the opera and the unintended marriage that results.

"The Masque of the Red Death": Prince Prospero attempts to avoid a dangerous plague by hiding in his abbey, but he must face the inevitability of death after confronting a mysterious visitor to his masquerade ball.